22/23 FHC New Legal Year: FHC CJ Expresses Worries Over 1000 Pending Cases Before Some Judges

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho Monday said he was worried about the number of cases pending before the court, lamenting that some judges have over 1,000 cases in their dockets.

He added that the situation was particularly worse in the Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt Divisions of the Court.

“We are accustomed to being expected to do more with less or no resources provided at all. While our needs continue to rise, funding doesn’t keep pace,” Justice Tsoho added.

Justice Tsoho, who spoke during a special court session the high court held to mark its 2022/2023 legal year, said that sections 29 (5) and 84 (14) of the Electoral Act, 2022, foisted on the high court, the exclusive jurisdiction of hearing and determining pre-election complaints, with section 285 (10) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, mandating that such cases must be concluded with 180 days from the date of filing of the suit.

“This is notwithstanding the judges’ existing high-volume dockets that present enormous challenges.

“It is necessary to place on record that the Electoral (Amendment) Act, 2022, was enacted without any consultation with the Court. Also, no support whatsoever was provided to address the increased responsibility. This weighed heavily on the operations of the Court,” he stated.

He also called on judges to discharge their responsibilities with the fear of God ahead of the 2023 elections.

Justice Tsoho gave the advice while fielding questions from journalists at a programme for the court’s 2022/2023 Legal Year Service at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Abuja.

“Though some others (judges) are of other faith, they too have gone to pray according to their faith,” he said. “So I advise that they approach their job with the fear of God. That is what is paramount.”

The chief judge, who urged everyone to be prayerful as the elections approach, said the country would overcome all its challenges if everyone depended on God.

“We have to be prayerful and allow ourselves to be guided by God because He is the one who has entrusted us with these positions and responsibilities.

“So, whatever the challenges, we will be able to overcome if we depend on God,” he said.

Earlier, Rev. Father Moses Jimbili urged the judges to always begin with God and end everything in God as they discharge their duties.